Girl, 3, found dead after search of Hamilton conservation area

Published September 3, 2022 at 11:22 pm

Zahra Ousmane (photo from police handout)

A young girl reported missing earlier this evening has been found dead.

Hamilton Police say 3-year-old Zahra Ousmane was last seen at Binbrook Conservation Area around 8 p.m. on Sept. 3 with her family.

At one point, members of Zahra’s family realized she was missing. They searched the area before contacting police around 6:18 p.m.

Searchers scoured the area looking for her and shortly before 8 p.m., kayakers found Zahra in the water.

She was transported to hospital and pronounced deceased a short time later.

The cause of death is not known but investigators do not believe it to be suspicious.

Police say they are continuing to investigate the circumstances surround Zahra’s death.

“Our thoughts are with the Ousmane family at this difficult time,” Hamilton Police said in a media release.

Detectives are appealing for anyone who saw her between 5 and 7 p.m. or took video in the area to come forward.

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